Efficient display of content on wearable displays

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for displaying information in various display regions within wearable display devices in a manner that enhances user experience. The wearable display devices may include a flexible display region and may be capable of operating in a wrinkled state. In one aspect, a wearable display device includes a plurality of sensors configured to determine the state of the display. The sensors may, for example, be configured to detect pressure, light, and/or deformation. In some aspects, the device includes a processor configured to provide image data to the display. In some aspects, the processor is capable of changing at least one characteristic of the image data provided to the display based at least in part on input received from the sensors. For example, the processor may re-size an image and/or deactivate a portion of the display.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
 a flexible display; 
 a plurality of deformation sensors coupled to the display, each of the plurality of deformation sensors configured to detect localized deformation of the flexible display in portions of the flexible display adjacent the sensor; 
 a plurality of ambient light sensors coupled to the display, each of the plurality of ambient light sensors configured to detect occlusion of a portion of the flexible display adjacent at least one of the plurality of ambient light sensors; and 
 a processor in electrical communication with the plurality of deformation sensors and the plurality of ambient light sensors and configured to provide image data to the display, wherein the processor is capable of changing at least one characteristic of the image data provided to the display based at least in part on input received from at least one of the plurality of deformation sensors and the plurality of ambient light sensors, and wherein the processor is capable of adjusting the image data or display characteristics of the flexible display based at least in part on input received from at least one of the plurality of deformation sensors and the plurality of ambient light sensors. 
 
     
     
       2. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformation sensors include at least one pressure sensor. 
     
     
       3. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformation sensors are configured to detect wrinkling of the flexible display. 
     
     
       4. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is capable of deactivating a portion of the display when input received from one of the plurality of ambient light sensors is indicative of reduced visibility or occlusion of the portion of the display. 
     
     
       5. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the changing at least one characteristic of the image data includes reshaping the image data based on input from one of the plurality of deformation sensors or the plurality of ambient light sensors. 
     
     
       6. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the changing at least one characteristic of the image data includes decreasing the resolution of the image data based on input from one of the plurality of ambient light sensors or the plurality of deformation sensors. 
     
     
       7. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the changing at least one characteristic of the image data includes altering the brightness of the image data based on input from one of the plurality of ambient light sensors or the plurality of deformation sensors. 
     
     
       8. The wearable electronic device of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a third sensor configured to determine the orientation of the flexible display. 
     
     
       9. The wearable electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is capable of determining which portions of the flexible display are visible to a user based at least in part on input received from the plurality of ambient light sensors and the third sensor, and constraining display of image data to portions of the flexible display visible to the user based on a privacy level of the image data. 
     
     
       10. A method of displaying content on a flexible display, the method comprising:
 displaying content on a flexible display; 
 receiving electrical signals from a plurality of deformation sensors coupled to the flexible display regarding localized deformation of the flexible display in portions of the flexible display adjacent the plurality of deformation sensors; 
 receiving electrical signals from a plurality of ambient light sensors regarding occlusion of portions of the display adjacent the plurality of ambient light sensors; and 
 altering the displayed content based at least in part on the electrical signals received from at least one of the plurality of deformation sensors or the plurality of ambient light sensors, wherein altering the displayed content includes altering the image data or display characteristics of the flexible display based at least in part on electrical signals received from the plurality of ambient light sensors or from the plurality of deformation sensors. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein altering the displayed content includes increasing a font size of text within the displayed content. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein altering the displayed content includes reducing the area in which the content is displayed. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein altering the displayed content includes deactivating a portion of the flexible display. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more deformation sensors include pressure sensors. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible display is capable of being wrinkled, wherein the plurality of deformation sensors are capable of providing an indication of the location and degree of wrinkling of the flexible display, and wherein altering the displayed content based at least in part on the received electrical signals includes altering the displayed content to compensate for the location and degree of wrinkling of the flexible display. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein altering the displayed content additionally includes changing at least one of a dimension or a resolution of the displayed content. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , additionally including:
 receiving electrical signals from at least one orientation sensor; 
 identifying a private region of the flexible display based at least in part on electrical signals received from the orientation sensor and the plurality of ambient light sensors, wherein the displayed content based at least in part on the received electrical signals comprises constraining display of private image data to the private region of the flexible display. 
 
     
     
       18. A wearable electronic device comprising:
 a flexible display including:
 a plurality of ambient light sensors, each of the plurality of ambient light sensors configured to provide an indication of occlusion of portions of the display adjacent the ambient light sensor, and 
 a plurality of deformation sensors coupled to the display, each of the plurality of deformation sensors configured to detect a localized deformation of the flexible display in a portion of the display adjacent the deformation sensor; and 
 
 a processor in electrical communication with the plurality of ambient light sensors and the plurality of deformation sensors and configured to deactivate at least an occluded portion of the display based at least in part on indications received from the plurality of ambient light sensors or from the plurality of deformation sensors. 
 
     
     
       19. The wearable electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the display is capable of bending over at least a 180 degree arc. 
     
     
       20. The wearable electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the display is capable of being operated in a curved state. 
     
     
       21. The wearable electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the device is configured to cover a majority of a user's forearm and includes at least one flexible display region. 
     
     
       22. The wearable electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the display is capable of being operated in a wrinkled state.